. >> coming at the same time is the fiscal cliff impasse. it's a potentially devastating one-two bunch for the u.s. economy. neither the longshore's union or alliance shipping company would allow anyone to speak on camera. but officials knowledgeable of the negotiations say it boils down to one issue. the key sticking point is the payments that the longshore men get for them. they pay royalties for the containers based on their weight but the shipping companies want to freeze those royalty payments for current longshore men and eliminate them for future hires. the longshore men say the royalties are made to make up for automation. but if the shipping companies lockout the longshore men -- >> that would impact more than containers. that would impact all cargos at ports. that would have a much more impactful reaction. $55 billion worth of cargo in an average month this year. candy? >> brian, i have to imagine retail companies and others who want those goods off the ships and in their stores have to be plenty worried. do they have a plan b to m